Promotion of Bantu Self-government Act, 1959

The Promotion of Bantu Self- Government Act (Act No. 46/1959 ) of 1959 was a law of apartheid in South Africa, which led the conversion of existing reserves in homelands with a certain degree of self-government in the way.

Prehistory

This Act provides a legislative follow development of the Bantu Authorities Act of 1951.

Purpose and Objectives

By means of this Act divided the South African government, the black population relatively arbitrary in so-called National Units ( German as: nationality groups) and instructed them on the basis of a prescribed home right the designated homelands to. First, there were eight national units that you order another later added, resulting in ten homelands ( for two Xhosa homelands: Transkei, Ciskei and ) emerged.

With this legislative step indirect representation of the black population was terminated by white representatives in the Parliament of the Union of South Africa. In consequence of this fundamental change in the black population were, regardless of their immediate whereabouts to political rights only in the respective binding on assigned homelands. In order to maintain "white " interests in these areas five Commissioners - General were appointed on the basis of that law by the Governor - General Charles Robberts Swart. This was responsible for it, according to the wishes of the central government in Pretoria to develop them " subordinate ", in view of the self-governing powers.

The executive itself with this law management development saw further provides that after provisos of the South African government could be collected by the regional authorities taxes and self-management activities gradually progressed. The granted autonomy were severely limited. The actual inspection was carried out by the South African Development Trust and by the Department of Bantu Administration, which granted the funds for development tasks in detail. To effectively manage the "white" supervisory function existed in addition to the home country authorities called Technical Committes as parallel administrative units of the Bantu Administration. In 1971, for example, were the 50 administrative units of the Ministry.

To obtain the self-government rights in the homelands, the "white " Parliament in Pretoria issued its own, the respective territory concerned laws. These are collectively referred to as the Homeland Self Government Act. The top administrative authorities, the territorial Authorities, you changed it to legislative bodies (legislative assemblies ) with ex -officio and elected members. The latter were always represented in numerical minority.

Commissioners - General

In June 1960, called:

• Werner Willi Max panis, for the group of the Northern Sotho, with headquarters in Turfloop, a former Secretary of the Ministry Bantu Administration,
• SF Papenfus, for the group of Southern Sotho with administrative headquarters in Witzieshoek, a former Member of Parliament (WK Harrismith ) and a member of the Native Affairs Commission,
• IS Kloppers, for the group of Tswana with administrative headquarters in Mafeking, a former senator,
• CG Nel, for the group of Zulu and Swazi with administrative headquarters in Nongoma, a former senator,
• JH Abraham, for the group of Xhosa with administrative headquarters in Umtata, a former Member of Parliament (WK Groblersdale ).

Corresponding laws for the Promotion of Bantu Self- Government Act

• Bantu Authorities Act 1951; to build specific administrative units in the homelands

• Bantu Homelands Citizen Act (1970); expatriation of black South Africans by automatic withdrawal of their South African citizenship

• Bantu Homeland Constitution Act 1971; to the development of independent government structures in the homelands